British Aikido Association Working Practices British Aikido Association National & International Aikido Competition Rules Rules and Regulations for the British Aikido Association Sport Aikido: Tanto Randori and Embu Contest Rules Randori Events: Tanto Randori Randori Kyogi Tanto Taisabaki Embu Events: Kata Kon-go-dan-tai-sen Ninindori Section: Bye-laws Page 1 of 30 Issue: 17 July 2005 British Aikido Association Working Practices Rules and Regulations for British Aikido Association and International Aikido Tournaments: Sport Aikido "Professor Tomiki, the founder and first president of Japan Aikido Association, was the first to develop a competitive format for aikido training. He designed the original competitive system in order to integrate aikido training into physical education programmes. It was his belief that students of aikido should train in the randori method, as well as in the traditional kata method, if they aspire to understand its true athletic and pedagogical disciplines. Only in randori practice can aikido practitioners learn the competitive strategy to deploy their favourite techniques in various combinations at the opportune timing moment. Through this process, they can also learn the self-discipline to overcome the psychological pressures they will meet in serious contest. However, while it is very important to foster a strong fighting spirit to win matches, all aikido tournaments should be organized based on the following two principles. First, every effort must be made to prevent serious injuries; second, contestants should appreciate tournaments as an opportunity to learn the true spiritual and technical disciplines of aikido, instead of trying to gain minor points and win on a technicality. This rulebook has included the basic rules and regulations for the sake of meaningful and mutually beneficial competition between teams within the Association and from the followers of Tomiki Shihan all over the world." (Adapted from the Preface to the JAA International Rules & Regulations) Contents 1. Competition area. 2. Competitor’s attire. 3. Getting on the mat, the match, getting off the mat. 4. Referee's calls 5. Referee's Calls for infringements of the rules. 6. Corner judges' calls in general 7. Corner judges' calls for infringements of the rules. 8. The criteria for judging effective tanto techniques. 9. Formulae for calculating the scored points. 10. The winner. 11. The criteria for judging Toshu techniques 12. Other regulations for infringements of the rules Appendix A: Correct etiquette for rei – officials, audience obligation, and incidents of injury. Appendix B: Referee and Judges’ signals illustrated. Appendix C: Reference table for judging effective Toshu techniques. Section: Bye-laws Page 2 of 30 Issue: 17 July 2005 British Aikido Association Working Practices 1.0 Competition area. 1.1 The competition area is 9.09 metres square, which comprises approximately 50 tatami mats. The starting lines are drawn 3.64 metres from the centre of the competition area. 1.2 Around the outside of the competition area a safety area of mats or tatami of about 2 metres should be provided. 1.3 The inner and outer areas must be clearly defined. 2.0 Competitor’s attire. 2.1 Players of sport aikido must wear a clean white dogi of the type approved by the British Aikido Association (BAA) and wear a red or white belt over their own belt as directed by officials. 2.2 The Keikogi approved by the BAA for UK and International competitions must comply with the following conditions. ♦ The length of the jacket must be sufficient to cover the buttocks when worn with an obi (belt). ♦ A lining approved by the BAA (and the member associations of the Tomiki Aikido International Network) may be attached to the forearms of the jacket sleeves. ♦ The sleeve must be loose and cover at least half of the forearm. During shiai (the bout) the sleeves must cover up to at least half of the forearm judged from the elbow and show a hands-breadth from the wrist. ♦ The length of the trousers must (which must be loose fitting) come at least half way down the lower leg but not below the ankles. ♦ The obi (belt) must be tied in the appropriate manner to prevent the jacket falling open. The surplus length of the belt when tied should be approximately 15 centimetres. ♦ The Keikogi must be clean and any damage safely repaired. Section: Bye-laws Page 3 of 30 Issue: 17 July 2005 British Aikido Association Working Practices 3.0 Getting on and off the Mat, the Match; Correct Etiquette for Rei 3.1 In team competitions, each team will line up in descending order of rank: Taisho, Fukusho, Chuken, Jiho, and Senpo, Taisho being nearest Joseki (front) side of the mat. The team on the right, facing Joseki, wear red strings around their belts; the team on the left white. The teams wait on their designated sides of the square mat, facing each other. The first competing pair of players will stand farthest away from Joseki, and the last pair nearest. Red on the right of the referee. 3.2 Both in men and women's categories, each bout is divided into first and second halves. Each half will last for one and a half minutes (i.e. a complete bout will be three minutes long). 3.3 At the referee's command "Seiretsu" (line up), the players on both teams will advance to the marks and line up. 3.4 The referee will pronounce: "Shomen-ni rei" (bow to the front.); then, "Otagai-ni rei" (bow to each other). The players on both teams will follow these commands, thus bowing to Joseki and then to each other. 3.5 The players will leave the mat and retreat to the designated waiting areas. The referee will take a step back to face the corner judges, and they will bow to each other silently. The judges will take their positions in the designated corners. 3.6 A match official will call out each contestant's name: e.g. "Red, Smith- Senshu (i.e. contestant). White, Tanaka-Senshu." The person whose name has been called should respond by saying "Hai" (yes) clear and loud. The competing players will first stand outside the red-mat areas, facing each other across the mat. Then, they will bow to each other simultaneously. (They do not expect any command from the referee for this movement.) The two competing players will move up to the marks and bow to each other again in a standing position. (There will be no command for bowing from the referee.) 3.7 The referee will turn to the player indicated as red (hereafter referred to as Red) and offer the competition tanto to him, holding it horizontally with both hands. Red will receive it with both hands. (Likewise, the player indicated as white hereafter referred to as White.The referee will pronounce "Hajime" (Go/begin) to get the match started. When the referee calls "Matte" (wait/hold it), both players will immediately go back to their marks and wait for his next command. Section: Bye-laws Page 4 of 30 Issue: 17 July 2005 British Aikido Association Working Practices 3.8 Competing players are expected to sit and wait in the following positions during an interruption: - i. A player who has been ordered to fix his loosened belt or keikogi (training uniform), should sit facing his opponent while tying his belt or adjusting his keikogi (It is not necessary for him to turn his back to his opponent.) His opponent should also wait sitting in the seiza posture. ii. A player who has been injured and requires medical attention should sit at the mark, turning his back to his opponent. If he is unable to sit because of his condition, he may keep standing or lie on the mat, following the referee's instruction. However, nobody except the competing players, the referee, and the judges can enter the mat unless the referee asks or permits him/her to do so. The opponent player will wait at the mark, either remaining in a seiza posture or sitting cross-legged in a lotus position. The referee may permit him to take a stretch inside the mat if medical treatment on the injured person seems to take a long time. (See also incident reporting.) 3.9 The referee will signify the end of the first half by pronouncing "Yame" (stop). When he says "Tanto-kotai," Red will hold the tanto horizontally with both hands and pass it over to White. In this process, Red (or the person who is handing over the tanto) will hold the outer edges of the tanto with both hands, and White will hold the middle of the knife. The referee will signify the beginning of the second half with "Hajime." The referee will declare the end of the latter half with "Yame. Soremade." (Stop. The game is over.) The player who has been holding the tanto will return it to the referee. Then, the referee will call for "Hantei"; and he and the two judges will signify the winner by means of a hand or flag movement. The referee will pronounce "Red," "White," or "Hikiwake" (Draw). The players will then bow to each other in a standing position (at a 30- degree angle; no command from the referee) and retreat to the designated areas. 3.10 When the last match (the Taisho match) is over, the referee will pronounce "Seiretsu" (line up); the judges and the players will all line up as at the beginning. The referee will call out: e.g. "Three-to-two for Red," "Two-to-two; White on a decision." Then, he will command them to bow to each other and then to Joseki: "Otagai-ni rei" and "Shomen-ni rei." This concludes the match between two teams. The players will leave the mat. The referee and judges will bow to each other silently as at the beginning and leave the mat. Section: Bye-laws Page 5 of 30 Issue: 17 July 2005 British Aikido Association Working Practices 4.0 Referee's Calls 4.1 "Hajime"(begin): Stand at attention with the hands pressed on the outsides of your thighs. (All the referee's calls begin in this position; thus, this direction will be omitted hereafter.) Extend your right hand-blade (shuto) from the chest forward while taking a half step forward. 4.2 "Matte" (wait)/"Yame" (stop)/"Soremade" (The game is over.): Turn to the contestant(s) and extend your hand with the palm turned at him/them while taking a half step forward. 4.3 "Ippon": Raise your hand straight up with the palm turned inside (i.e. with the little finger facing forward and the thumb backward.). 4.4 "Waza-ari": Hold your hand-blade at the chest and then extend it horizontally in the direction of the player who has scored. 4.5 "Yuko": Hold your hand-blade at the chest and then extend it down at a 45- degree angle. 4.6 "Tsuki-ari": Raise your hand-blade at a 60-degree angle. 4.7 "Tanto-kotai" (transferring the tanto from one player to the other): Hold both your hands palm up and cross them in front of the belt buckle; your hand closer to the current knife-holder must be held on top of the other. 4.8 "Fujubun" (not effective): Cross your hands (palms turned to your body) in front of the belt buckle and quickly swing them sideways twice. 4.9 "Muko" (illegal because it is not one of the basic randori techniques): Cross your hands in front of the chest with the right hand closer to your body. Since it is illegal, the player who has applied the technique will be given a "shido" or "chui" penalty. 4.10 "Mienai" (blind spot): Cross your hands in front of the belt buckle with the left hand closer to your body. 4.11 "Gogi" (call for a conference): Extend your hands toward the judges with the palms up, and then bend the upper arms upward forming 90-degree angles, motioning the judges to your position. 4.12 "Dogi-naoshi" (adjust the robe): Cross your open hands in front of the belt buckle and demon- strate the movement of tucking in the hems of the robe and tying the belt. 4.13 "Kachi" Call for the winner: Hold your hand-blade at chest level and then raise it toward the winner at a 45- degree angle. Section: Bye-laws Page 6 of 30 Issue: 17 July 2005 British Aikido Association Working Practices 4.14 "Hikiwake" (draw): Raise your hand-blade right above the head and then bring it straight down to chest level. 5.0 Referee's Calls for Infringements of the Rules. A. Basic Concepts 5.1 "Shido": Make a fist and extend your arm horizontally in the direction of the violator; then bend the forearm at a 90-degree angle to point upward. Turn your head toward the violator and point at him with your index finger pointing slightly upward. 5.2 " Chui "Turn your body straight to the violator and hold your fist in front of your own chest. Then, point your finger to the space a little above his head. B. Hand Movements for Shido or Chui Penalty 5.3 "Taisabaki shido" Case 1 (failure to defend against the tanto technique}: Swing your right shuto once as in a taisabaki movement and then repeat the same movement with your left hand-blade. Return to the upright position and then call a shido or chui penalty in the manner mentioned above. (The same goes for all the following commands.} 5.4 "Taisabaki shido" Case 2 (when Toshu holds onto Tanto for three seconds or more in the improper position with the tanto being pressed upon his torso below the armpit line and above the belt): Place your fist at the part of your body where Toshu has the tanto pressed on his own body. Extend that fist toward Toshu (i.e. the contestant to be penalized). 5.5 "Jogai" (off the mat): Extend your hand down at a 70-degree angle with the palm turned forward, and swing it back and forth twice to the point where you stand as if sweeping the mat. The hand nearest the violator will be used. 5.6 "Ryosha Jogai" (both players off the mat): Demonstrate the hand movement for " Jogai" with both hands. 5.7 "Dogi-mochi" Case 1 (when Toshu has clutched Tanto's jacket or trousers): When Toshu has clutched Tanto's keikogi, raise your arm nearest Toshu, bend the upper arm upward forming a 90- degree angle, and clutch the underside of your elbow with your other hand. Case 2 When Toshu has clutched Tanto's trousers, take a half step forward, bend over at the waist and clutch your trousers with the hand nearest Toshu. 5.8 "Ichi-ga hikui" (when Toshu has hooked his hand around Tanto's thigh or leg for leverage when applying a shomen-ate technique): Take a step forward, bend over, and tap the back of your knee twice with the hand nearer Toshu. Section: Bye-laws Page 7 of 30 Issue: 17 July 2005 British Aikido Association Working Practices 5.9 "Tsuki-ga takai" (stabbing too high): Hold your hand-blade horizontally at chest level and then slide it up to the chin. 5.10 "Tsuki-ga hikui" (stabbing too low): Hold your hand-blade horizontally at belt level and then slide it down toward the knees. 5.11 "Tanto-otoshi" (when Tanto has dropped the tanto): Extend your closed hand forward with the palm down and then open it as if releasing the grasped knife. 5.12 "Dakae-komi" (holding): Demonstrate the movement of holding an imaginary opponent. 5.13 "Tekubi-mochi" (when Tanto has held onto Toshu's wrist): Demonstrate the movement of clutching the wrist. C. "Kyoiku-teki Shido" (educational instruction/warning) Basically, kyoiku-teki shido will be offered only when Tanto or Toshu has lost his balance inadvertently and ends up in the following positions. However, when the player commits the same error for the second time, he will be penalized with shido or chui. The referee will show with gestures what type of error has been made and then orally declare: "Tsugi shido"(Next time, you'll get a shido). (This applies to all the following situations.) The typical situations for kyoiku-teki shido are: Case 1 When Tanto has lost his own balance or has stabbed at the wrong place: e.g., stabbing too high (although a dangerous type of stabbing will result in an immediate shido or chui penalty), stabbing in an improper posture, or defending against Toshu's techniques in an improper posture; Case 2 When Toshu has lost his own balance or has failed to apply techniques in the proper posture: e.g. carelessly lowering his body position so that he is vulnerable to a stab to the throat or head, applying a technique in an improper posture, or trying to break the opponent's balance by a sacrifice technique. The same warning may be issued when Toshu has clutched both Tanto's elbows with his hands without trying to defend against tanto stabbing first (although pressing or pinning Tanto's elbows with his shuto is permitted), or when Toshu has charged headfirst at Tanto without trying to block the tanto techniques first. Section: Bye-laws Page 8 of 30 Issue: 17 July 2005 British Aikido Association Working Practices 6.0 Corner Judges' Calls in General A corner judge will hold a red flag in the left hand and a white flag in the right hand. 6.1 "Ippon": Raise a flag straight up without bending your arm. 6.2 "Waza-ari": Hold a flag at chest level and then extend it horizontally in the direction of the player who has scored. 6.3 "Yuko": Hold a flag at chest level and extend it down at a 45-degree angle. 6.4 "Tsuki-ari": Raise a flag at a 60-degree angle. 6.5 "Muko"(not accepted as an Aikido technique): Cross the flags at chest level with the right-hand flag inside. 6.6 "Fujubun" (not effective): Cross the flags at a low level (i.e. at knee level when seated and at belt level when standing) and swing them crosswise several times. 6.7 "Mienai" (blind spot): Cross the flags at a low level. 6.8 "Gogi yokyu" (request/demand a conference): Cross the flags above the head and knock them together to make a batting sound twice. 6.9 Call for the winner: Raise the flag of the winner's colour straight up right after the referee's call. 6.10 "Hikiwake" (draw): Raise both flags straight up 7.0 Corner Judge's Calls for Infringements of the Rules It is the corner judges' role to make all appropriate signals in judging the effectiveness of both Tanto and Toshu techniques. However, this is particularly important when the referee has been unsighted, or when the referee has asked for their confirmation. The referee must take due cognisance of all the corner judges signals. The corner judges also have the right to request/demand a conference if their signals are unrecognised. 7.1 "Taisabaki-shido" Case 1 (Toshu's failure to defend against the tanto techniques): Corner judges should point out bad taisabaki by crossing the flags at a low level and swing them sideways several times (i.e. the same movement as fujubun). 7.2 "Taisabaki-shido" Case 2 (When the tanto is pressed upon Toshu's torso (below the armpit line and above the belt) for three seconds or more): Tap a flag several times on the part of your body where Toshu has the tanto pressed on his own body. The colour flag representing Toshu will be used. Section: Bye-laws Page 9 of 30 Issue: 17 July 2005 British Aikido Association Working Practices 7.3 " Jogai-shido" (off the mat): Extend the colour flag representing the one who has left the competition area and then swing it sideways several times at knee level as if sweeping the mat back and forth to the position where you stand. 7.4 "Ryosha-jogai" (both players off the mat): Using both flags, swing your right shuto once as in a taisabaki movement and then repeat the same movement with your left shuto. Return to the upright position. 7.5 "Dogi-mochi" Case 1 (clutching the keikogi/training jacket): Raise the colour flag representing the violator, bend the arm at the elbow pointing upward, forming a 90-degree angle, and put the other hand under the hooked elbow. 7.6 "Dogi-mochi" Case 2 (clutching the trousers): Take a half step forward, bend over at the waist and clutch at your trousers with the hand holding the colour flag representing the violator. 7.7 "Ichi-ga hikui" (Toshu has hooked his hand around Tanto's thigh or leg for leverage when applying a shomen-ate technique): Take a half step forward, bend over, and tap the back of your knee twice with the hand holding the colour flag representing the violator. 7.8 "Tsuki-ga takai/hikui" (Stabbing too high/too low): Case 1 If Tanto stabs too high, place his colour flag horizontally in front of the throat and slide it up to the chin. Case 2 If Tanto stabs too low, hold the flag at belt level and slide it downward. 7.9 "Dakae-komi" (holding): Extend the violator's flag forward, hold it perpendicularly, and demonstrate the movement of holding an imaginary opponent represented by the flag. 7.10 "Tekubi-mochi" (when Tanto has held onto Toshu's wrist): Tap your own wrist several times with the colour flag signalling Tanto. 8.0 The Criteria for Judging Effective Tanto Techniques A. Criteria for tsuki-ari (effective tanto techniques) The pre-condition for tsuki-ari (effective tanto stabbing) is that Tanto's arm must be stretched when the tanto lands on Toshu's body. If attacking with the right hand, Tanto must be in right posture. If attacking with the left hand, Tanto must be in left posture. Tanto may use the tanto in either the right or left hand. Tanto may not change hands, except when on his mark after the referee has called Matte. Tanto will clearly show a change of hand by passing the Tanto from one hand to the other at Jodan. Section: Bye-laws Page 10 of 30 Issue: 17 July 2005